Along with Herman David, then chairman of the All England Club, Derek Hardwick was a leading advocate for open tennis, involving both amateurs and professionals.
The first open tournament in the Open Era was the British Hard Court Championships was played at Mr. Hardwick's home club, the West Hampshire Club, Bournemouth, in 1968.
[1] Hardwick also served as chairman of the Men's International Professional Tennis Council between 1974 and 1977 which was the governing body of men's tennis prior to the advent of the ATP Tour.
[2] His sister Mary Hardwick was also an active tennis player in the 1930s and 1940s.
This biographical article relating to English tennis is a stub.